Mellory Manning closing addresses adjourned

Mellory Manning. Photo / Supplied

Closing addresses in the Mellory Manning murder trial have been adjourned until tomorrow.

Murder accused Mauha Fawcett, who is conducting his own trial, has elected not to take the stand.

After almost three-and-a-half weeks, and more than 100 witnesses, the Crown yesterday concluded its evidence in the High Court at Christchurch.

Closing addresses will now take place tomorrow and the court will not sit on Friday.

The jury will not begin its deliberations until Monday after Justice David Gendall has summed up the evidence.

The judge apologised to the jury for the delay, and thanked them for their efforts in coming in to court today amidst the wild storm that is lashing the city.

Fawcett, known within gang circles as 'Muck Dog', denies murder.

He is representing himself in court with assistance by an amicus curiae, lawyer Craig Ruane.

Fawcett, 26, claims police pressured and "coached'' him into making false confessions that he was present when Miss Manning, 27, was killed on or about December 18, 2008 over an alleged debt.

The Crown says Fawcett - then aged 21 - either took part in the killing, or was there as a party to her brutal murder.

Her partially naked body was discovered floating in the Avon River the day after she was killed.